RF power amplifier control system

Abstract

An RF power amplifier control system is presented herein. The system includes a group of power amplifier modules for amplifying an RF signal. Each group includes first and second group controllers for, when on, controlling the operation of the power amplifier modules including turning on and turning off each of the modules within the group. The first group controller is normally on for controlling the amplifier operation and the second group controller is turned on for controlling the operation only when the first controller is turned off. First and second central controllers are provided for, when on, controlling the operation of the first and second group controllers. The first central controller is normally on to provide the control operation and the second central controller monitors the operation of the first controller and performs the control operation in the event that the first central controller malfunctions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An RF power amplifier control system comprising: a group of power amplifier modules for amplifying an RF signal;   said group including first and second group controllers for, when on, controlling the operation of said power amplifier modules including turning on and turning off each of said modules within said group;   said first group controller normally being on for controlling the amplifier operation and the second group controller is turned on for controlling the operation only when the first controller is turned off;   first and second central controllers each for, when on, controlling the operation of said first and second group controllers; and,   said first central controller being normally on to provide said control operation and said second central controller monitors the operation of said first controller and performs said control operation in the event that the first central controller malfunctions.   
     
     
       2. A system as set forth in claim 1 including means for providing an input signal; and, at least one exciter for receiving said input signal and providing said RF signal.   
     
     
       3. A system as set forth in claim 1 including means for providing an input signal; and, first and second exciters, each for receiving said input signal and providing therefrom an RF signal.   
     
     
       4. A system as set forth in claim 3 including controllable switching means for selecting the RF signal supplied by one of said exciters for amplification by the system. 
     
     
       5. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said group includes a plurality of group power detectors for providing group power level signals representative of the power at various locations within said group. 
     
     
       6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said group of power detectors include means for providing a group power level signal representing the reflected power from a load receiving said RF signal from said group; and, said first group controller having means for comparing said group reflected power signal with a reference and controlling said power amplifiers modules in said group in accordance with said comparison.   
     
     
       7. A system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for controlling said power amplifier modules includes means for turning off the power amplifier modules in said group in response to said reflected power signal exceeding a reference. 
     
     
       8. A system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for turning said power amplifier modules off includes means for thereafter turning said power amplifier modules on and then repeating said turning off and turning on of said power amplifier modules a plurality of times over a given time interval to determine whether the reflected power signal exceeding said reference condition continues after repeated turning off and turning on of said power amplifier modules and if so, then turning said power amplifier modules off without turning them on again. 
     
     
       9. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said group power detectors include means for providing reject power signals representative of reject load power levels from each of said power amplifier modules, and said first group controller having means for comparing said reject power signals to determine if there is an imbalance between said reject power signals and controlling said power amplifier modules in accordance with said determination.   
     
     
       10. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said group has at least one fault detector for providing a fault signal in the event of detecting a fault condition and wherein each of said first and second group controllers, when on, is responsive to a said fault signal for turning off all of the power amplifier modules within said group. 
     
     
       11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said detected fault condition is an air flow failure condition. 
     
     
       12. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said detected fault condition is a cabinet door open condition. 
     
     
       13. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said detected fault condition is a three-phase loss. 
     
     
       14. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said detected fault condition is an AC main power loss. 
     
     
       15. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said group includes AC to DC power supply means for supplying DC voltage to each of said power amplifier modules and controllable AC switching means for, when on, connecting said power supply means with an AC supply source. 
     
     
       16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said group includes a manually operable master switch means for supplying a turn on signal for turning on said AC switching means. 
     
     
       17. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said group has a group controller failure detector for providing a failure signal in response to detecting failure of said first group controller; and, means responsive to said failure signal for turning on said second group controller.   
     
     
       18. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said group includes a group signal splitter and a signal combiner and wherein said power amplifier modules are interconnected between said group signal splitter and said group signal combiner. 
     
     
       19. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said system has a plurality of said groups of power amplifier modules and said system includes a plurality of system power detectors for providing system power level signals representative of the power at various locations within said system. 
     
     
       20. A system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said system power detectors include means for providing a system reflected power level signal representing the reflected power from a load receiving the RF signal from said system; and, wherein one of said central controllers includes means for comparing said system reflected power signal with a reference and controlling said power amplifier modules in said system in accordance therewith.   
     
     
       21. A system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said means for controlling said power amplifier modules includes means for muting said exciter in said system in response to said reflected power signal exceeding said reference. 
     
     
       22. A system as set forth in claim 21 wherein said means for muting said exciter includes means for thereafter unmuting said exciter and then repeating said muting and unmuting of said exciter a plurality of times over a given time interval to determine whether the reflected power signal exceeding said reference continues after repeated muting and unmuting of said exciter. 
     
     
       23. A system as set forth in claim 4 including means for determining whether the exciter that provides the selected RF signal is operating properly and if not, then determining whether the exciter is the first exciter and if so then muting both exciters and switching to the second exciter and then removing the muting of the second exciter. 
     
     
       24. A system as set forth in claim 1 including means for determining whether an AC supply source for the system is operating properly and if not then determining whether the AC power supply had returned within a predetermined timed interval and then turning off all of the power amplifier modules. 
     
     
       25. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first central controller includes programmed computing means which is programmed to perform said control operations. 
     
     
       26. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein each said power amplifier module has computing means including means for receiving and sending data and for storing data; each said first group controller has computing means including means for receiving and sending data and for storing data; and,   said first central controller has computing means including means for receiving and sending data and storing data and wherein said system includes a data bus interconnecting all of said computing means for communicating data therebetween.   
     
     
       27. A system as set forth in claim 26 wherein said computing means in said first central controller includes means for requesting data from any of said other computing means in said power amplifier modules and in said first group controller and receiving requested data therefrom. 
     
     
       28. A system as set forth in claim 27 wherein said computing means in said first central controller includes means for storing received requested data. 
     
     
       29. A system as set forth in claim 28 wherein said computing means in said first central controller includes means for receiving data from data sources other than said other computing means. 
     
     
       30. A system as set forth in claim 29 wherein said computing means in said first central controller includes data decoding means for decoding received data and means for determining whether said decoded data includes command data representing functional commands and, if so, initiating operation in response to such commands. 
     
     
       31. A system as set forth in claim 29 including means for determining whether said received data represents calibration information and if so performing the requested calibration and storing the same. 
     
     
       32. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first central controller includes means for determining whether said exciter has malfunctioned and, if so, initiating operation for turning off said power amplifier modules. 
     
     
       33. A system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first central controller includes means for determining whether one of said first and second exciters has failed and, if so, controlling said controllable switching means for selecting the RF signal supplied by the other of said first and second exciters. 
     
     
       34. A system as set forth in claim 19 wherein one of said central controllers is a first controller and wherein said first controller includes means for determining whether said reflected power signal is greater than a second threshold and, if so, reducing the forward power by applying a control signal to said exciter. 
     
     
       35. A radio frequency transmitter system and control system therefor comprising: a plurality of power amplifier cabinets connected in parallel between a system splitter and a system combiner, an input circuit adapted to receive signals to be transmitted coupled to the system splitter, an output circuit coupled to the system combiner, and detectors for detecting a plurality of various power levels of the power amplifier cabinets and input and output signals;   the power amplifier cabinets each including a plurality of power amplifier modules connected in parallel between a cabinet splitter receiving input signals from the system splitter and a cabinet combiner providing output signals to the system combiner, and detectors for detecting a plurality of various power levels of the power amplifier modules and the input and output signals;   the power amplifier modules each including at least one power amplifier stage receiving input signals from the cabinet splitter and providing output signals to the cabinet combiner, and detectors for detecting the power levels of the input and output signals;   a power amplifier module control system including a module control circuit receiving the detected module power level signals for identifying faults in the detected module power level signals for controlling the operation of the module in response to faults;   a power amplifier cabinet control system including a main cabinet control circuit receiving the detected cabinet power level signals for identifying faults in the detected power level signals for controlling the operation of the plurality of modules in response to faults and a secondary cabinet control circuit for detecting a fault in the main cabinet control circuit for assuming the control of the operation of the plurality of modules;   a power amplifier system control system including a main system control circuit receiving the detected system power level signals for identifying faults in the detected system power level signals for controlling the operation of the plurality of cabinets in response to faults and a secondary system control circuit for detecting a fault in the system main control circuit for assuming the control of the operation of the plurality of cabinets, and   circuit means for communicating the fault status of the detected power levels of the cabinet control circuits to the system control circuits.   
     
     
       36. A radio frequency transmitter system and control system therefor as define in claim 35 wherein: the system detectors monitor system output power, system reflected output power and system power output imbalance;   the cabinet detectors monitor cabinet output power, cabinet reflected output power and cabinet power output imbalance, and   the module detectors monitor module input power and module output power.   
     
     
       37. A radio frequency transmitter system and control system therefor as defined in claim 36 wherein: the module control system is adapted to control the operation of the power amplifier module as a function of monitored module power levels;   the cabinet control systems are adapted to control the operation of individual power amplifier modules as a function of monitored cabinet power levels, and   the system control systems are adapted to control the operation of individual power amplifier cabinets as a function of monitored system power levels.   
     
     
       38. A radio frequency transmitter system and control system therefor as defined in claim 37 wherein: the cabinet control systems are adapted to control the gain of the power amplifier modules in response to certain monitored cabinet power levels, and to inhibit the operation of module power amplifiers in response to other monitored cabinet power level faults.   
     
     
       39. A radio frequency transmitter system and control system therefor as defined in claim 37 wherein: the system control systems are adapted to control the gain of the power amplifier cabinets in response to certain monitored cabinet power levels, and to inhibit the operation of the transmitter system in response to other monitored power level faults.   
     
     
       40. A radio frequency transmitter system and control system therefor as defined in claim 37 wherein: the module control system is adapted to control the processing of the input signal to the power amplifier module in response to certain monitored power levels.   
     
     
       41. A radio frequency transmitter system and control system therefor as defined in claim 37 wherein: the cabinet control systems are responsive to the detection of cabinet output reflected power level beyond a threshold to inhibit the operation of the power amplifier modules and reactivate the power amplifier modules a plurality of times prior to inhibiting the operation of the power amplifier modules if the reflected power level has not dropped below the threshold level.   
     
     
       42. A radio frequency transmitter system comprising: a plurality of primary amplifier stages connected in parallel wherein each of the primary amplifier stages include a plurality of second level amplifier stages connected in parallel and wherein each of the plurality of second level amplifier stages includes at least one third level amplifier stage and wherein the plurality of second level amplifier outputs are combined to form the primary level output;   power level monitor circuits included in each of the primary, second level and third level amplifier stages for monitoring the input and output power levels of the respective amplifier stages;   main control circuits for the primary level, second level and third level amplifier stages receiving power level signals from their respective power level monitor circuits for controlling the operation of the respective amplifier stages as a function of the power level signals received;   back up control circuits for the primary and second level power amplifies stages for monitoring the operation of the respective main control circuits to assume control in the event that a malfunction is detected in associated main control circuit, and   a communication circuit for communicating said power level signals to the control circuits of the primary amplifier stage.   
     
     
       43. A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 42 wherein: the power level monitor circuits of the primary amplifier stages monitor average input power, average output power, reflected output power and power output imbalance;   the power level monitor circuits of the second level amplifier stages monitor average input power, average output power, reflected output power and power output imbalance; and,   the power level monitor circuits of the third level amplifier stage monitor the average input power and the average output power.   
     
     
       44. A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 43 wherein: the control circuit for the third level amplifier stage is adapted to control the gain or phase of the input signal to the third level amplifier stage in response to certain monitored power levels.   
     
     
       45. A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 44 wherein: the control circuits for the second level amplifier stages are adapted to control the gain of the second level amplifier stages in response to certain monitored power levels and to inhibit the operation of the second level amplifier stages in response to other monitored power levels.   
     
     
       46. A radio frequency transmitter system as defined in claim 45 wherein: the control circuits of the primary amplifier stages are adapted to control the gain of the primary amplifier stage in response to certain monitored power levels and to inhibit the operation of the primary level amplifier stages in response to other monitored power levels.   
     
     
       47. An RF power amplifier control system comprising: a group of power amplifier modules for amplifying an RF signal;   said group including first and second group controllers for, when on, controlling the operation of said power amplifier modules including turning on and turning off each of said modules within said group; and,   said first group controller normally being on for controlling the amplifier operation and the second group controller is turned on for controlling the operation only when the first controller is turned off.   
     
     
       48. A system as set forth in claim 47 including means for providing an input signal; and, at least one exciter for receiving said input signal and providing said RF signal.   
     
     
       49. A system as set forth in claim 47 including means for providing an input signal; and, first and second exciters, each for receiving said input signal and providing therefrom an RF signal.   
     
     
       50. A system as set forth in claim 49 including a controllable switch that selects the RF signal supplied by one of said exciters for amplification by the system. 
     
     
       51. A system as set forth in claim 48 wherein said group includes a plurality of group power detectors providing group power level signals representative of the power at various locations within said group. 
     
     
       52. A system as set forth in claim 51 wherein said group of power detectors includes a power detector that provides a group power level signal representing the reflected power from a load receiving said RF signal from said group; and, said first group controller compares said group reflected power signal with a reference and controls said power amplifiers modules in said group in accordance with said comparison.   
     
     
       53. A system as set forth in claim 52 wherein said controller controls said power amplifier modules by turning off the power amplifier modules in said group in response to said reflected power signal exceeding a reference. 
     
     
       54. A system as set forth in claim 53 wherein said controller turns said power amplifier modules off and thereafter turns said power amplifier modules on and then repeats said turning off and turning on of said power amplifier modules a plurality of times over a given time interval to determine whether the reflected power signal exceeding said reference condition continues after repeated turning off and turning on of said power amplifier modules and if so, then turning said power amplifier modules off without turning them on again. 
     
     
       55. A system as set forth in claim 54 wherein said group power detectors include power detectors that provide reject power signals representative of reject load power levels form each of said power amplifier modules, and said first group controller compares said reject power signals to determine if there is an imbalance between said reject power signals and controls said power amplifier modules in accordance with said determination.   
     
     
       56. A system as set forth in claim 47 wherein said group has at least one fault detector for providing a fault signal in the event of detecting a fault condition and wherein each of said first and second group controllers, when on, is responsive to a said fault signal for turning off all of the power amplifier modules within said group. 
     
     
       57. A system as set forth in claim 56 wherein said detected fault condition is an air flow failure condition. 
     
     
       58. A system as set forth in claim 56 wherein said detected fault condition is a cabinet door open condition. 
     
     
       59. A system as set forth in claim 56 wherein said detected fault condition is a three-phase loss. 
     
     
       60. A system as set forth in claim 56 wherein said detected fault condition is an AC main power loss. 
     
     
       61. A system as set forth in claim 47 wherein said group includes AC to DC power supply that supplies DC voltage to each of said power amplifier modules and a controllable AC switch for, when on, connecting said power supply means with an AC supply source. 
     
     
       62. A system as set forth in claim 61 wherein said group includes a manually operable master switch for supplying a turn on signal for turning on said AC switch. 
     
     
       63. A system as set forth in claim 56 wherein said group has a group controller failure detector for providing a failure signal in response to detecting failure of said first group controller; and, means responsive to said failure signal for turning on said second group controller.   
     
     
       64. A system as set forth in claim 48 wherein said group includes a group signal splitter and a signal combiner and wherein said power amplifier modules are interconnected between said group signal splitter and said group signal combiner.